Trump Accuses Harris of Copying His ‘No Tax on Tips’ Plan in Nevada Showdown
Former President Donald J. Trump criticized Vice President Kamala Harris during a Las Vegas event on Friday, accusing her of copying his proposal to exempt tips from federal income taxes. Addressing a crowd at a local restaurant, Trump labeled Harris a “copycat” and a “flip-flopper,” suggesting she was opportunistically adopting his idea to appeal to service industry workers in the key swing state of Nevada.
Trump’s remarks came in response to Harris’s recent announcement in Las Vegas that she would support eliminating taxes on tips if elected. Trump first proposed this idea in June, which gained bipartisan traction quickly. He expressed frustration over Harris’s adoption of the plan, particularly in Nevada—a state where he is determined to reverse his past electoral losses.
The competitive race in Nevada has intensified, with recent polls showing a narrow lead for Trump. Harris, who has closed the polling gap significantly, has also focused her campaign efforts on service workers, a key demographic in Nevada’s tip-dependent economy.
During his speech, Trump mocked Harris’s recent convention address and criticized her for expressing gratitude to supporters multiple times. He also highlighted his endorsement by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently suspended his own campaign and backed Trump.
Trump’s advocacy for the “no tax on tips” proposal, inspired by a conversation with a Las Vegas waitress, has gained broad bipartisan support, including backing from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Nevada’s Democratic senators. However, some economists have raised concerns about potential negative impacts on non-tipped workers.
Despite these challenges, Trump and Harris continue to aggressively target Nevada’s electorate, with both candidates emphasizing policies aimed at improving conditions for service industry employees.